There are a couple of ways you can go .... you can stain them darker, you can sand and paint them allowing some of the graining to come through ( it gives a sort of beachy feel ) or you can sand them, use a special primer that will help "fill in the grain " and then paint. Check with your local paint store - they should be able to steer you to the right stuff....I have seen photos on Houzz before from folks who have successfully painted oak cabinets and they look great! . It is alot of work and you have to use good products...
Good Luck

I must be the only one in the world who still loves the warmth of my honey oak cabinets.

No you aren't,... I have many clients who love their oak cabinets and just look for an update to the kitchen.... unfortunaltely depending on where you live and your type of home, the oak can be vary dated and make it difficult to sell the home.... and sometimes if you have had them for 20 years, it is just time for a change.....

You should check out Chalk Paint. Lots of websites out there. No prepping involved. Try one door first before committing. If you don't like it just sand paint off.

Had my oak cabinets stained white with grey grain. They look great. Painter said just water down any color paint and use it as a stain. I wanted to see the grain but cover up the honey oak. Had it professionally done and love the results.

Would like to know Sue Levine's paint choice: oil or water base, brand and color name.

-LeeLee: is that a picture of the finishing product from painting over oak cabinets? Did you use a specific kind of paint?

-Sue Levine: I agree with 1eja..can you tell us the paint choice, brand and color name?

-Debbi: Thank you so much for your feedback! I would like to avoid the grainy look.

Your husband is right about painting cupboads as being a lot of work, but you can do it in steps and it is so worth it. We took off a few doors at a time, so we could function in the kitchen over the next few weeks. Be prepared to sand, prep and spray for the best finish and speak to a paint expert on how to do the job properly. Removing the hinges is necessary and if replacing hardware you may have to consider wood filling the holes before painting. My favorite paint is Benjamin Moore and going with a soft white, you can't go wrong. Don't use oil base, as it is being slowly removed from the market and once you use oil, you cannot paint over with latex, without a ton of work. Good quality Latex paints are just as durable in my mind when done right.

Katie, those aren't my cabs but mine look similar. I used oil based enamel paint not a special paint. Paint was Sherwin Williams Velvet White since my trim was already that color.

Katie those cabinets look very handsome when painted. The oak kitchens that have your form of facing take on a transitional look when painted and are very much "en vogue" right now. I find the faced cabinets like yours look extremely handsome with a gray/white combination. Very causual chic. Of course colour choice will come down to the rest of the kitchen.

I've discovered that many men (not all, but many) love the look of "wood" and have a hard time painting something they really like the look of. I bet if you dig a little deeper you will find that hubby is not only concerned about the work involved...he is also a little in love with wood grain. This isn't always the case...but many times I've heard this to be the "real" reason why hubbies don't want the wood painted.

The cabinets would look immediately better with a different color on the walls...the mustard is competing with the honey cabinets.

I have an oak kitchen, and I also love mine. Even though my kitchen is large, the colour of,the cabinets make it look warm and inviting. Everything seems to become outdated after ten years. My advice to anyone redoing a kitchen, pick something you really like that will still be in style in 20 years.

I am older than dirt and I remember when growing up everyone had white kitchen cabinets. Then came wood cabinets (cherry, maple, oak, etc) and everyone had to have those. Now we are back to the white cabinets. What's the next must have for cabinets?

I picked out a grayish white at Lowe's. It was their brand but sorry I don't remember the name or number. It is a great match with my Cambria counter top. (Cambria is a Sile Stone like product. They have a large and wonderful selection.) I'd like to send a picture but I can't figure out how to do that.

Check out this product called Rustoleum Cabinet Transformation. It's a great product for DIY. I paid $1,400 to have my kitchen cabinets painted in an oil-based finish. Stay away from white paint colors. my cabinets were an off white and I had them painted a taupe color (Sherwin Williams Latte).

I like the color cabinet. How about changing the knobs and yes the wall color.

I also had oak cupboards which I painted a cream color...it was a big job and wouldn't do it again, but it does look nice. Before I painted them I had painted my kitchen walls green...Benjamin Moore's Mossy Oak, which made the oak cupboards look sooo good!

I took a color course from an interior decorator and I asked her what color goes with honey oak and she said, either green or terracotta/brick colors compliment it best.